Monday 23 February 2015

THE GURU PART 2

Agathiyar has come to help us. When the Jeeva Nadi Guru requested that Agathiyar simplify the writings that appeared in the Nadi, preferably to be in present day Tamil, so that both he and the listeners could comprehend, Agathiyar was saddened that he had to bring down his standards but the most compassionate guru agreed to do so for the sake of his subjects. 

When a Malaysian approached the Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai for a reading, the subject had difficulty in understanding the readings from the Nadi and the clarifications giving by the guru. To the guru's surprise Agathiyar asked him to hand over the Nadi to the subject. One peering into the Jeeva Nadi the subject realized that words appeared in the Malay language, a language he was well versed with and familiar. He read what Agathiyar had to convey to him by himself and understood.

Tavayogi out of the blues told me over the phone recently that my family, friends and I were blessed for Agathiyar to be residing at Agathiyar Vanam while he had to traverse the length and breadth of India seeking him. Agathiyar too had mentioned several places that I had to visit in my Pothu Kaandam, Shanti Parikara Kaandam, and Gnana Kaandam and perform atonements. This I did in the year 2003. Later in the Aasi Nadi he invited me over again to more places where the Siddhas had traveled. This I accomplished in 2005 with Tavayogi leading the way. Again on returning to my homeland Agathiyar mentioned several more places that I ought to visit. That's when I told Agathiyar I do not wish to come over, as I was satisfied with all the sights, miracles and blessings he had shown. I told him instead, that if at all he wished to show me a thing or two, let that take place, here, in my prayer room at Agathiyar Vanam. Agathiyar did not bring up the subject again. Only when in September/ October of 2013 did he ask me to visit my guru Tavayogi and pay my respects to him. I left immediately with my family, and I am happy I did. 

Tavayogi does not have a following, never encouraged one, but has set up and inaugurated numerous temples, peedhams or institutions honoring Agathiyar and the Siddhas, both in India and Malaysia. He showed us the path and left us to walk it, experiment, and discover. He was always there to catch us if we should trip and fall. He was always there to redirect us if we should deviate in our ways. There was no conditions laid; no rules; he gave us all the space and freedom to engage in all things of our likings, but only requested that we had the thought of Agathiyar at each moment.

Agathiyar too remodeled the path to suit current trends and times and made it easy for seekers to adopt the path. He weaved a routine, spiritual practice and teaching taking into consideration the seeker's life style, ability, cultural upbringing, financial standing, his career - all tailored to suite the candidate. Agathiyar had always this words to say to them - Be Patient.

When my nephew found it difficult to perform prayers daily as requested, Agathiyar gave him an option to participate once a month in any prayer done on Pornami or Full moon. When the Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai had erked Agathiyar for some reason, Agathiyar withdrew appearing in the Nadi as a reading. The guru regretted and asked for forgiveness. Agathiyar submitted after some time asking him to chant a divine mantra a certain number of times. As the guru felt the figure mentioned was unattainable and an impossible feat, again he pleaded to Agathiyar to shower his grace and lessen 'the punishment' . Agathiyar asked him to chant a lesser number of times. Even this was not feasible to the Nadi Guru. He begged of Agathiyar to lessen the number of chants. Agathiyar pleased him eventually. 

When Agathiyar came over to our shores in the form of a bronze statue, he had asked to chant his mantra 100,000 times besides performing other rituals that he strictly stipulated and I had to adhere too. I was figuring how I was to achieve that figure. I timed myself for ten minutes. If I was to chant non stop it would take me six days, which was not something feasible. If I chant during the day (4am to 10pm) taking time to sleep at night, it would take me ten days to complete 100,000. Again this was not feasible. Thats when Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar was making her rounds in Malaysia, preaching the Siddha path. I consulted her. She told me to gather the family and friends and get all of them to chant together, rather than I chant alone. We did just that. But after an exhausting two hours of chanting Agathiyar's moola mantra, we only managed to put in a mere 45,000. We gave up. Our throats were parched and dry. Some even lost their voices. 

Some days later Agathiyar called me for a Nadi reading. To my surprise  he accepted our prayers. Then I realized the numbers were not important but its rather whether we take the initiative to do as he says that matters.

When a Punjabi lady came for a Nadi reading with Nadi Guru Ramesh, she was instructed to feed the monkeys and the birds.  She headed for Batu Caves. But there was no monkey to be seen that day. She fed the birds and left the food that she brought for the monkeys behind. Later she went again for a reading, feeling guilty that she could not carry out Agathiyar's directive. But the most compassionate father told her he had accepted her atonement.